Apple sold more new iPhones in its first weekend than any of its previous
models.

The company sold 9million of its new iPhone 5s and 5c devices, compared to 5million of the original iPhone 5 last year. Although the new models are on sale in 11 markets, now including China, rather than nine, indications are that sales have improved.

British network sources underlined the global trend for sales of the higher-end 5s far outstripping the 5c, although long term trends are expected to show good sales for both devices. The 5s is now largely out of stock until October, although the 5c is widely available. Apple’s new gold-coloured 5s is in particularly short supply and high demand, sources said.

“This is our best iPhone launch yet,” claimed Tim Cook, the company’s chief executive. “More than 9 million new iPhones sold - a new record for first weekend sales. The demand for the new iPhones has been incredible, and while we’ve sold out of our initial supply of iPhone 5s, stores continue to receive new iPhone shipments regularly. We appreciate everyone’s patience and are working hard to build enough new iPhones for everyone.”

Analysts had predicted between 5 and 8 million launch weekend combined sales.

Apple also announced that 200 million devices are now running iOS 7, the update it released for its iPhones, iPads and iPods last week. The company claims that makes it the “fastest software upgrade in history”.

Both the iPhone 5s and 5c went on sale for the first time in the UK last Friday, the first time Apple has released two models simulataneously. Fans waiting outside the Covent Garden Apple store let out screams of joy as they were let in by staff to buy the iPhones.

The iPhone 5s is described by Apple as, "the gold standard in smartphones", retails from £549, while the "budget" 5c costs from £469.

The flagship iPhone 5s comes in silver, gold and 'space grey' and features an A7 chip, a Touch ID fingerprint identity sensor, ultra-fast wireless, and an iSight camera with a larger 8MP sensor.

The lower-cost iPhone 5c, is available in five colours: blue, green, pink, yellow and white. It features a A6 chip, ultra-fast wireless, an 8-megapixel camera.

Apple said in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission that with the strong response to the new iPhones, it now expects revenue for the fourth fiscal quarter to be "near the high end of the previously provided range of $34bn to $37bn" and that profit margins will also be near the high end of its estimate of 36pc-37pc.